O. Sert, M. Kabalak, B. Şabanoğlu / Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem., 2012, 40 (1), 99–103

Determination of Forensically Important Coleoptera and Calliphoridae (Diptera) Species on Decomposing Dog (Canis lupus familiaris L.) Carcass at Ankara Province

Ankara İlinde Çürümekte Olan Köpek (Canis lupus familiaris L.) Leşi Üzerinde Adli Önemi Olan Coleoptera ve Calliphoridae (Diptera) Türlerinin Tespit Edilmesi

Research Article

Osman Sert*, Mahmut Kabalak, Burcu Şabanoğlu Hacettepe University, Applied Biology Divison, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Beytepe, Ankara, Türkiye

ABSTRACT

n this study, decomposition process of a dog (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus 1758) carcass was examined and I21 species belonging to the families Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Dermestidae, Nitidulidae, , Scarabaeidae, Carabidae (Coleoptera), Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, (Diptera) and Vespidae (Hymenoptera) were collected during two months period at Hacettepe University Beytepe Campus Ankara in 2002. This is the first study in Turkey on and the fauna of a dog carcass.

Key Words Dog carcass, Forensic Entomology, Coleoptera, Diptera.

ÖZET

u çalışmada, 2002 yılında Ankara Hacettepe Üniversitesi Beytepe Kampüsünde iki aylık dönem boyunca Bköpek (Canis lupus familiaris Linnaeus 1758) leşinin çürüme süreci incelenmiş ve Staphylinidae, Histeridae, Dermestidae, Nitidulidae, Cleridae, Scarabaeidae, Carabidae (Coleoptera), Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae (Diptera) ve Vespidae (Hymenoptera) familyalarından 21 tür toplanmıştır. Bu çalışma Türkiye’de adli entomoloji ve köpek leşi böcek faunası üzerinde yapılan ilk çalışmadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler Köpek leşi, adli entomoloji, Coleoptera, Diptera.

Article History: Received June 12, 2011; Revised September 1, 2011; Accepted January 10, 2012; Avaliable Online: March 5, 2012.

Correspondence to: Osman Sert, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey Tel: +90 312 297 80 54 Fax: +90 312 299 20 28 E-Mail: [email protected] 100 O. Sert, M. Kabalak, B. Şabanoğlu / Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem., 2012, 40 (1), 99–103

INTRODUCTION study area following its death. A forestation area at Beytepe Campus, Hacettepe University, were orensic entomology is an extensive discipline chosen as study area. The flora of the study Fthat uses entomology in the judicial system. area consisted mainly of dark pine (Pinus nigra Forensic entomology, with a focus on justice L.). Samples were collected from the carcass trial, is separated into three main areas; urban every day in the morning, in the afternoon, and entomology, stored products entomology, and at sunset. Attention was paid to collect samples medico-criminal entomology [1]. in the afternoon when and activity was high. The adult samples on carrion were collected and other invertebrates feeding using net and forceps A few of the adult samples on carrion form a distinct faunal succession were killed using ethyl acetate to keep them for associated with the various stages of decay [2]. collection. The others were preserved in 70% According to Payne [3], approximately 400 insect ethanol. Each sample box was labeled accordingly. species are found at different decomposition stages on carcasses. Determination of the insect RESULTS AND DISCUSSION fauna in a specific area, identification of different immature stages of the insect species (egg, first, In this study, detection of Diptera and Coleoptera second, third instar larvae, and pupa) that appear families on dog carcass and species of these on carrion, and the knowledge of the development families were aimed. This preliminary study was time of these insect species at different conducted between 25 September - 17 November temperatures can provide reliable evidence for 2002 and the insect fauna on a dog carcass was the determination of PMI (Post Mortem Interval) detected within the bounds of possibility. [2, 4, 5]. The insect fauna on a dog carcass was Anderson [6] indicated that every stage of observed for the first time in Turkey during decomposition is attractive to different group of decomposition; 6 species from Calliphoridae, sarcosaprophage , primarily insects. Muscidae and Sarcophagidae families of order Two major groups of insects are predictably Diptera; 14 species from Cleridae, Dermestidae, attracted to cadavers and provide the majority Histeridae, Nitidulidae and Staphylinidae of order of information in forensic investigation; the Coleoptera were determined. Apart from this, and the [7]. In decomposition process Scarabaeidae and Carabidae from Coleoptera, Calliphoridae, known as blow flies, come to carcass Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), within minutes after death and start to oviposit which do not have importance for forensic their eggs [8]. After blow flies, species belonging entomology, were collected from carcass (Table 1). to Coleoptera begin to come around the carcass. In this study, from the beginning of succession The main aim of this study was to determine it was detected that the first insects arriving Diptera and Coleoptera species on dog carcass in to the carcass were flies from Calliphoridae Ankara province at Hacettepe University Beytepe family. Calliphoridae samples were followed by Campus. Sarcophagidae and Muscidae families. After the colonization of Diptera it was seen that samples MATERIALS AND METHODS of Coleoptera arrived on the carcass.

Dog (Canis lupus familiaris L.) carcass was In the studies in which insect fauna on carcass provided from Shelter of Municipality of are determined; generally pig carcass has been Yenimahalle in Ankara. The dog was killed by a used [9-12]. When the available literature is veterinary employed at municipality in according observed, apart from this study, the study of Reed to B.30.2.HAC.0.01.00.05 numbered “The Per- [13] is regarded as the only study carried on dog mission of Hacettepe University Experimental carcass. Ethics Council” and transferred to the O. Sert, M. Kabalak, B. Şabanoğlu / Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem., 2012, 40 (1), 99–103 101

Table 1. Detected species from dog carcass.

ORDER FAMILY SPECIES

DIPTERA CALLIPHORIDAE Chrysomya albiceps Wiedemann, 1819

Calliphora vomitoria Linnaeus, 1758

Calliphora vicina Robineau-desvoidy, 1830

SARCOPHAGIDAE sp.

MUSCIDAE Musca sp.

Hydrotaea ignava (Harrris, 1780)

COLEOPTERA STAPHYLINIDAE Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Aleochara clavicornis L.Redtenbacher, 1849

Gyrohypnus punctulatus (Paykull, 1789)

Philonthus sp.

Oxypoda sp.

NITIDULIDAE flavomaculata Rossi, 1790

Nitidula rufipes (Linnaeus, 1767)

Nitidula flavomaculata Rossi, 1790

Nitidula rufipes (Linnaeus, 1767)

CLERIDAE violacea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775)

HISTERIDAE Saprinus sp. 1

Saprinus sp. 2

DERMESTIDAE Dermestes frischii Kugelann, 1792

SCARABAEIDAE Sisyphus sp.

CARABIDAE Harpalus sp.

HYMENOPTERA VESPIDAE Vespula germanica Fabricius, 1793

In the scope of this study, species of Chrysomya rufipes and Necrobia violacea from Cleridae albiceps, Calliphora vomitoria and Calliphora family, Creophilus maxillosus from Staphylinidae vicina from Calliphoridae family of Diptera; family were detected. Similarly, these findings are Sarcophaga sp. from Sarcophadiae family; Musca coherent with the findings of Özdemir and Sert sp. and ignava from Muscidae family [11] on pig carcass in Beytepe. were observed on dog carcass. On a similar study carried on dog carcass Reed [13] stated that he All Staphylinidae genera detected in this found the species of Calliphora vicina, Calliphora study, apart from Oxypoda Mannerheim 1830, are vomitoria, and Hydrotaea ignava. Sarcophaga parallel to the ones detected in the study of Reed sp. and Musca sp. show similarity on the basis [13] on the basis of species. Samples of Aleochara of species with Reed [13]. Three species from sp. are intensely found on the carcass. [13, 14]. Calliphoridae family are parallel to the findings of Özdemir and Sert [11] have found species of Şabanoğlu and Sert [12] carried on pig carcass in Aleochara Gravenhorst 1802, Philonthus Stephens Beytepe Campus. According to Reed [13], parallel 1829 and Creophilus Samouelle 1819 on pig to our study, species of and carcass, parallel to our study. When the available Nitidula rufipes from Nitidulidae family, Necrobia literature is reviewed, there is no study in which 102 O. Sert, M. Kabalak, B. Şabanoğlu / Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem., 2012, 40 (1), 99–103

the species of Aleochara clavicornis is found ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS on the carcass. Similarly, Gyrohypnus species is the rare Staphylinidae samples observed on We would like to thank Hacettepe University the carcass [14]. However, since there is no Scientific Researches Unit for supporting our previous study on the observation of Gyrohypnus study with 06D-02 601 001 numbered project, punctulatus species on a carcass; it is regarded as employee veteriners from Animal Shelter of the first detection on carcass. Yenimahalle Municipality for dog carcass and dear Nazlı Yanbuloğlu, Senem Özdemir, Zafer Erik and It has been detected that there are two Dilek Turan for their efforts during field study. Saprinus Erichson 1834 species of Histeridae family but these species could not be identified. Saprinus species detected in the study of Özdemir and Sert [11] have been compared however it was REFERENCES seen that it is different from the species detected in this study. It has been detected that the findings 1. DG. Hall, Medicocriminal entomology. Pp. 1-8: P.E. Catts and N.H. Haskell (Eds.). Entomology and Death: of Sarpinus species of Reed’s study [13] and the A Procedural Guide. Joyce’s Print Shop, (2001). findings of Özdemir and Sert [14] are parallel with 2. KGV. Smith, A Manual of Forensic Entomology. the findings of this study on the basis of gender Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), yet; it has not been concluded definitely though it London, (1986). was understood that there is a difference on the 3. JA. Payne, A summer carrion study of the baby pig basis of species. Sus scrofa Linnaeus. Ecology 46 (1965) 592. 4. B. Greenberg, Flies as forensic indicators, Journal of In the study, Dermestes frischii is the only Medical Entomology, 28 (1991) 565. Dermestidae species detected. Similarly, it is 5. JrF. Introna, TW. Suman, JE. Smialek, Sarcosa- one of the two Dermestidae species detected prophagous fly activity in Maryland (USA). Journal of on carcass in the study of Arnolds et al. [15]. In Forensic Sciences 36 (1991) 238. another study on pig carcass, Özdemir and Sert 6. GS. Anderson 2001, Insect Succession on Carrion and It’s Relationship to Determining Time of Death. [11] have stated that Dermestes frischii is the most Forensic Entomology. 143. abundant species of Dermestidae. 7. JH. Byrd, JL. Castner, Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations, CRC This study is the first preliminary study Press, Boca Raton, 2001. carried on dog carcass in the field of forensic 8. GS. Anderson, SL. Van Laerhoven, Initial studies on entomology in Turkey. The variety of fauna insect succession on carrion in southwestern British on animal carcass used in this field has been Columbia, J. Forensic Sci., 41 (1996) 617. stated in most of the literature [3, 10, 16], this 9. RF. Denno, WR. Cothran, Competitive interactions and difference has been partially detected in this ecological strategies of sarcophagid and calliphorid study as well. It is especially important that two flies inhabiting rabbit carrion, Ann. Entomol. Soc. species (Aleochara clavicornis and Gyrohypnus Amer., 69 (1975) 109. punctulatus) which had not been observed in any 10. S. Kuusela, I. Hanski, The structure of carrion fly communities: the size and the type of carrion, other studies before were determined with this Holarctic Ecology 5 (1982) 337. study. However repetition of this study which was 11. S. Özdemir, O. Sert, Determination of Coleoptera completed in two months annually or biannually on carcasses in Ankara province, Turkey, Forensic would contribute to attainment of new data both Science International 183 (2009) 24. for scientific world and for our country. O. Sert, M. Kabalak, B. Şabanoğlu / Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem., 2012, 40 (1), 99–103 103

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